SCRIPTURE
"If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and everything in it is mine." (Psalm 50:12)
OBSERVATION
The audacity of God. Why won't he tell us? He should. However, we are on a need to know basis (ANTKB) with God. If and when we need to know, he will tells us. The problem is we think we always need to know. Humorously, he tells us in Psalm 50, that even if he were hungry he would not tell us. Why? Because he owns everything. He has no needs.
Now, just because he does not have any needs does not mean he has no desire for us. He wants us to bring offerings, pay vows, and call on him in the day of trouble (vv. 14-15). As humans in response to our Creator, we are to live lives of trust and faith. Waiting until we know (all the i's dotted and t's crossed) leads to inaction. Faith is trust in motion.
APPLICATION
What does God mean, he won't tell me? I think he should let me in on whatever he is doing. However, that does not build my faith it just builds my ego. I'm in on something from God, that someone else is not. I need to submit and surrender. The Psalmist writes, to "order my conduct" (v. 23) to see salvation. That is the heart of worship (vows, offerings, calling on him) which defines my ongoing walk with God. Taking the next step even if I don't know where, how, or when. God calls me to walk my faith and not by sight. I know enough of God that I don't need to know everything.
PRAYER
Lord, I can trust you, even I'm not in the know. That's the beauty of who you are. You perfectly keep the tension between full disclosure and the mystery of the unknown.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Smelly Christians
SCRIPTURE
"But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ, and spreads through us in every place the scent of knowing Him." (2 Corinthians 2:14)
OBSERVATION
There is a scent in knowing Christ...a spiritual pheromone. Paul says this fragrance smells different to different people. To those being saved it is the fragrance of Christ. To some the scent of death, leading to death. And still to to others a scent of life, leading to life.It's the same scent but perceived in different ways. (This also happens when we walk by the perfume counter at Macy's. Some fragrances make us glad and some make us gag.) It all depends on the olfactory senses of the smeller.
Knowing God, walking in a relationship with him, should make such a difference in our lives that it is perceivable by others, much like cologne. Christians are to be smelly. Paul says we are on display and God spreads the scent through us. The reason we wear cologne/perfume is for the benefit of others. Most people don't pick up on their own odor but it is readily apparent to others.
There is a difference between a spiritual scent and a spiritual stink. The scent is the aroma of knowing Christ. This is the scent we are to emit. The stink comes from an un-Christlike life. The rottenness of saying we know Christ but not really knowing him...walking daily in relationship with him. The hypocrisy and ingenuousness of our walk betray what we say.
APPLICATION
After spending time at the YMCA, I'm not afraid to admit I stink. However, to other people at the Y, those who are also sweating, the smell isn't so bad, or even noticeable. But when I go home, a few noses are crinkled in my honor. As a follower of Jesus, my life gives off an aroma. The challenge from Paul is to ask, "How do I smell?" Is my life emitting the scent of knowing him? Does my life give off something that is noticeable and different because of my relationship with Christ? If it is, I can't help how others perceive it. Some are glad. Some gag. If following Christ was easy or popular, everyone would be doing it. For people with different worldviews, the smell will be picked up differently. That is beyond the scope of my control and concern. However, my job is to be sure I'm emitting the proper scent not the stink. The stink of sin, hypocrisy, or an inauthentic faith are not appealing to anyone. It is ultimately God who spreads the scent.
PRAYER
Lord, I want the smell of knowing you, in order to make a difference in the world.
"But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ, and spreads through us in every place the scent of knowing Him." (2 Corinthians 2:14)
OBSERVATION
There is a scent in knowing Christ...a spiritual pheromone. Paul says this fragrance smells different to different people. To those being saved it is the fragrance of Christ. To some the scent of death, leading to death. And still to to others a scent of life, leading to life.It's the same scent but perceived in different ways. (This also happens when we walk by the perfume counter at Macy's. Some fragrances make us glad and some make us gag.) It all depends on the olfactory senses of the smeller.
Knowing God, walking in a relationship with him, should make such a difference in our lives that it is perceivable by others, much like cologne. Christians are to be smelly. Paul says we are on display and God spreads the scent through us. The reason we wear cologne/perfume is for the benefit of others. Most people don't pick up on their own odor but it is readily apparent to others.
There is a difference between a spiritual scent and a spiritual stink. The scent is the aroma of knowing Christ. This is the scent we are to emit. The stink comes from an un-Christlike life. The rottenness of saying we know Christ but not really knowing him...walking daily in relationship with him. The hypocrisy and ingenuousness of our walk betray what we say.
APPLICATION
After spending time at the YMCA, I'm not afraid to admit I stink. However, to other people at the Y, those who are also sweating, the smell isn't so bad, or even noticeable. But when I go home, a few noses are crinkled in my honor. As a follower of Jesus, my life gives off an aroma. The challenge from Paul is to ask, "How do I smell?" Is my life emitting the scent of knowing him? Does my life give off something that is noticeable and different because of my relationship with Christ? If it is, I can't help how others perceive it. Some are glad. Some gag. If following Christ was easy or popular, everyone would be doing it. For people with different worldviews, the smell will be picked up differently. That is beyond the scope of my control and concern. However, my job is to be sure I'm emitting the proper scent not the stink. The stink of sin, hypocrisy, or an inauthentic faith are not appealing to anyone. It is ultimately God who spreads the scent.
PRAYER
Lord, I want the smell of knowing you, in order to make a difference in the world.
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